The Immigration Bureau, under the keen watch of Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, has ramped up efforts to streamline immigration procedures in sync with the government’s freshly expanded visa-free scheme for foreign tourists. Determined to uphold efficiency, the bureau aims to reduce the average processing time at airport immigration control to no more than a brisk 45 seconds per traveler. In a bid to support this ambitious target, the number of immigration officers is set to increase significantly, ensuring smoother and faster passage through check-in booths, especially during peak travel hours when passenger traffic tends to surge. “Our goal is for each arriving passenger to process through immigration eagerly and efficiently, spending no more than 45 seconds at our counters,” assured Pol Maj Gen Phanthana. To further enhance security and expedite check-ins, airports are deploying cutting-edge biometric technology designed to deter transnational crime. Utilizing facial recognition and other advanced identification…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In the bustling heart of Bangkok, construction workers can be seen commuting on a songthaew along Rama IV. Amidst this everyday scene, a storm is brewing over the proposed hike in the daily minimum wage to 400 baht nationwide—an idea that has the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) in Chiang Mai deeply concerned. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) Chakrin Wangwiwat, the chairman of FTI in Chiang Mai, argues that increasing the daily minimum wage during the period from May 1 to October 1 is not only excessive but also mismatched with the current economic realities. The private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is experiencing trepidation that this wage hike could tip them towards temporary or even permanent shutdowns due to financial strain. At the moment, the minimum wage in Chiang Mai stands at 352 baht per day. “Boosting it to 400 baht would hike production costs by 10%, lead to…
In the serene landscapes of Kanchanaburi, cannabis plants thrive under the careful watch of local cultivators. Yet, looming on the horizon is a potential upheaval that threatens to shake the roots of Thailand’s burgeoning cannabis industry. As the government contemplates reclassifying cannabis as an illegal substance, the entire industry, valued at a hefty 27 billion baht, teeters on the edge of chaos, warns Wisan Potprasat, the CEO of the Cannabis Medical Industrial Estate Association of Thailand. Wisan Potprasat, who also serves as the president of the Community Enterprise Network of Western Herbal Alliances—the largest licensed cannabis cultivation network in Thailand—voiced his concerns regarding the Ministry of Public Health’s plan to revert cannabis to its former status as a narcotic. “This move negates the previous administration’s progressive policy on cannabis, rebranding it as a narcotic once more,” he remarked. “It’s a decision that will send shockwaves through various sectors, particularly affecting…
A postman can determine your future, like the one at Ban Fang post office in Khon Kaen whose failure to deliver an express letter cost the recipient his chance to be a teacher. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) KHON KAEN: A serious lapse by Thailand Post ended a man’s hope of following his dream to be a teacher, simply because a crucial letter was not delivered. Sadit Kruangjumpa said Ban Fang post office made an unacceptable mistake in failing to deliver an express letter sent to his home address. As a consequence, he missed out on his opportunity to become a teacher. Mr. Sadit resides in Bangkok but his official home address is in Ban Fang district in Khon Kaen province. He was among those who had passed the Education Ministry’s test for applicants for vacant positions as teaching assistants. He was selected for a role under the quota allocated to the…
In a dramatic turn of events in Surin’s northeastern province, a high-stakes sting operation led to the arrest of two suspects involved in the illegal wildlife trade, marked by the seizure of not just one but two tiger cubs and nearly 100 kilograms of elephant tusks. The operation, carried out by a multi-agency task force, was the culmination of meticulous planning and undercover surveillance that shed light on a disturbing marketplace thriving beneath the radar. On a busy Tuesday, the director of the National Park Office, Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, spearheaded the joint operation. Collaborating with the Phraya Sue special force, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, and local police, the team orchestrated a risky sting in Sangkha district. The daring move hinged on a covert agreement to purchase the tiger cubs for a staggering 350,000 baht. Safely ensconced in a cage, the apprehended cubs, one male and the other…
Mr. Tsuyoshi Ozaki (fourth from the left), Executive Officer and Senior Vice President, alongside the dedicated management team and enthusiastic volunteers from Thai Central Chemical Public Company Limited (TCCC)—a foremost producer and distributor of NPK compound fertilizer in Thailand under the esteemed OX-Brand—partnered with local dealers to launch the TCCC CARAVAN Project. This remarkable event took place at several key locations: Bueng Ba Community School in Pathumthani Province, Bueng Singto School and Sakaedot Prachasan School in Chachoengsao Province, and Ban Than Thong Daeng School in Saraburi Province. The heartwarming initiative aimed to equip students with crucial knowledge about plant structure and the proper ways to utilize fertilizers effectively. Additionally, the project set its sights on inspiring a sense of environmental stewardship and sparking creative thought processes amongst young minds. As part of this green venture, students engaged in hands-on activities, crafting plant pots from recycled plastic bottles to nurture ornamental…
Police were summoned to break into the locked Banoo Iranian Restaurant in South Pattaya around midday on Tuesday. What they discovered was shocking: the bodies of the two proprietors, 64-year-old Iranian Mojtaba Ghanbariazad and his 49-year-old Thai wife, Thanaporn Poonprakhon, lay lifeless in their second-floor bedroom. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong) The once-bustling eatery had been eerily quiet since last week, with no sign of the owners. Friends and patrons grew increasingly concerned when the doors remained shuttered for days. Patyah’s law enforcement stepped in to unravel the mystery and met a gruesome end. It was around noon when the police managed to gain entry to the three-story building. The couple’s friend, 27-year-old Kritporn Ajinkit, had sensed something was amiss. He informed the police about a heated argument between the couple and their 21-year-old Myanmar employee, known as Min. The quarrel occurred just last Thursday, after which Min left on the couple’s…
Thai netizens found themselves in a state of bewildered amazement, as Ms. Sorawee, a 38-year-old woman famously known as “Nong Ying,” made a captivating claim on live television. Proclaiming to possess mystical psychic abilities, Nong Ying demonstrated her supposed prowess in communing with spirits. During her appearance on Channel 3’s Hon Krasae talk show on May 21st, she captivated both the host and the audience by asserting that she could engage with five Buddhas to heal ailments and liberate individuals from the burdens of past life karmas. The atmosphere on the show was electric as Nong Ying articulated the foundations of her extraordinary abilities. With serene confidence, she declared that her healing technique requires neither physical contact nor financial contributions; rather, it solely demands unwavering faith and trust in her process. According to Nong Ying, her method is grounded in “quantum physics,” a bold claim that adds a veneer of…
National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT) made waves at the China-ASEAN Submarine Cable Cooperation Forum, an illustrious gathering held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on July 4, 2024. This vibrant forum served as a bustling marketplace for exchanging cutting-edge experiences in developing submarine cables among ASEAN country representatives. It was a confluence of minds eager to share profound insights on the international submarine cable industry, primed to explore expanded horizons of cooperation in submarine cables and digital infrastructure development across the ASEAN region. Representing NT with commendable zeal were Ms. Wannapha Srisangangamkul, the dynamic Assistant Vice President of Data Communication Marketing and Product Development, Mr. Arunsak Nitin, the astute Manager of Transmission Network Engineering Sector, Dr. Natthaphong Liamcharoen, the strategic Manager of International Network Sector, and Mr. Phithak Thiangphuk, the insightful Manager of International Data Communication Sector. Together, they shared a treasure trove of knowledge and strategic guidelines for…
On a regular Monday, you can witness a unique spectacle at the Makkasan Lake—people from all walks of life gather to collect fish, turning the usually tranquil area into a bustling scene. Among the variety of fish, the invasive blackchin tilapia has become a noteworthy presence in Bangkok’s Makkasan swamp. This water body connects with the Chao Phraya River, creating a potential ecological upheaval that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the city’s authorities. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt addressed the situation on Tuesday, stating that blackchin tilapia were prominently among the many dead fish discovered after local officials drained the 72,000-square-meter swamp in Ratchathewi district. The draining was a preemptive measure to counter wet season flooding, accompanied by the temporary shutdown of a nearby pumping station for maintenance. Governor Sittipunt revealed that approximately 20% of the dead fish were blackchin tilapia, with the remainder being common tilapia. He expressed significant concern due…